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BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL
A few more slices of the Firelfy verse that somehow went missing all those years ago.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 2536 RATING: 10 SERIES: FIREFLY
LOST CONVERSATIONS XV
1. WHERE KAYLEE TELLS SIMON AND BOOK THAT ZOE AND WASH ARE GOING TO RESCUE MAL FROM “War Stories”
INT. SERENITY, INFIRMARY
Simon and Book enter the infirmary. Simon is holding the handkerchief with Mal’s ear.
BOOK
Do we even have any ice?
SIMON
A little, in the small refrigerator.
Book looks around, is lost.
Where?
Simon places the ear on the counter and then opens a door below. Its a small refrigerator, with a few shelves and a small freezer. There are many vials of drugs here, keeping cool.
It’s small but serves its purpose. Some medicine must remain at certain temperatures or it will quickly change properties. (beat) Hand me something sharp, please.
Book looks around and then finds a pair of scissors and hands them to Simon. He takes them and starts chipping ice away from the freezer walls. Book catches on and looks for a container, finds nothing useful, then seizes the bedpan, hands it to Simon.
SIMON (CONT’D)
Thank you.
He starts putting the ice in the bedpan, stands when he has enough, close the door. He lays the bedpan on the counter and carefully places the ear on top, then wraps the handkerchief over it, and places more ice on top.
You can reattach it, can’t you?
Most certainly. The cut is clean and that helps. Hopefully all the blood vessels and nerves are present. With a little dermal mender, it will be difficult to tell if it’s ever been removed.
You’ve done this before?
Not an ear, no, but other parts. I once reattached a girl’s leg.
KAYLEE (O.S.)
And she named her hamster for you, right?
Simon and Book turn and Kaylee is in the doorway. Simon smiles.
Yes. You remembered.
KAYLEE
Wasn’t that drunk.
Book doesn’t quite follow but he notices Kaylee seems worried over something.
Kaylee, the captain...
I know. (beat) Just, I gotta tell you something. Zoe and Wash are fixing to go get him.
SIMON (surprised)
What? They’re...
BOOK (determined)
Not going alone.
And he walks out of the infirmary. Kaylee and Simon look at each other in surprise and turn and follow.
INT. CARGO BAY
Book walks with purpose towards the stairs and a gun locker.
KAYLEE (anxious)
But Jayne said its suicide!
Book stops and looks at her.
BOOK (calm)
Kaylee, if any of us was held by Niska now, what do you think the captain would be doing?
KAYLEE Planning a rescue. (beat) You’re right. We gotta try.
I’m coming, too, but Kaylee...I think you should stay on Serenity.
KAYLEE (slightly put out)
No, sir. Ain’t leaving me behind.
BOOK (serious)
It’s going to be very dangerous, Kaylee. Someone may die.
I know, and I know your heart’s in the right place, both of you, but he’s my Capt’n too and he’s...more than that, like a brother to me. I gotta come. Please.
Just...worried about you.
And I wouldn’t worry about you if you went and I didn’t?
I know you would. (beat) If it means that much to you...
It does.
Stay close to me.
I will.
Let’s get ourselves armed.
And they move to the gun locker by the stairs.
2. WHERE THE TEAM LEAVES SERENITY FOR THE HOSPITAL JOB IN “Ariel” INT. SERENITY, CARGO BAY - NIGHT
The flying ambulance is ready to go. Kaylee is by it, opening the hard shelled body capsules, which are on the floor.
MAL (O.S.)
He’s heavier than I thought he’d be!
JAYNE (O.S.)
Yeah, for such a scrawny guy.
Jayne and Mal enter from the passenger area, struggling to carry Simon. Zoe and Wash follow them carrying River. All four are dressed in the Alliance paramedic uniforms. Both Simon and River are unconscious.
WASH
Why couldn’t they have taken the drugs after we put them in the capsules?
ZOE
Beats me.
They finally arrive at the capsules and place the Tams in them. They are out of breath and lean against the ambulance. Kaylee looks at Simon and River and her eyes go wide.
They ain’t breathing!
Everyone jumps a bit, startled by her outcry.
MAL
They ain’t supposed to be.
Oh.(beat)That’s right.
I guess Simon knows his drugs alright.
Find out soon enough.
Mal rolls up his sleeve and looks at the list written on his arm.
MAL (CONT’D)
I can’t even say half these words. Just hope the drug storage is where he said it is.
You know, for a guy who never committed a crime in his life...
Yeah, that’s why the Alliance is after him with a vengeance.
Well, besides that...I mean Simon sure came up with this plan in a hurry. Knows all the floor lay out, where everything is, hospital’s routine. Seem odd to you?
What do you mean?
Wash, baby, Simon is the wanted one. He wouldn't set us up.
JAYNE
Hell, why would he? We ain’t worth no reward like he is.
Mal gives Jayne a strange look, not noticed by the others.
No, no, I didn’t mean that. Just..seems odd.
Maybe he worked there before?
Or maybe he’s been planning this since Inara said she wanted to come here for her check up. It don’t matter. We do the job. It’s a good plan, almost a great plan in my books. Let’s get moving.
They close the body capsules, lift them to the ambulance. Wash looks at Kaylee and then the ambulance.
Moment of truth.
She’ll fly. I know it.
Wash climbs aboard.
Gorramn it, you mean this thing ain’t flown yet!
Oh, she’s flown before. Just not...recently.
Jayne looks worried now. Zoe gives him an exasperated look.
Just get on. Don’t you trust Kaylee?
Yeah, but...this thing better fly. I ain’t too fond a crashing.
Jayne and Zoe board. Mal is the last, stops to talk to Kaylee. The engine starts up and Kaylee grins. Mal looks at her.
You done good.
KAYLEE (all bashful)
Thanks, Capt’n.
I need you on the bridge, checking the police and military wavebands for signs of trouble. KAYLEE
Yes, Capt’n.
You got the boat, Kaylee.
She looks around, worried, suddenly feeling very alone.
You gonna be OK here by yourself?
Yeah, just, first time, you know. (beat) Capt’n, about Simon and River...please take care of them.
I’ll bring him back. And her. Don’t worry. No one gets left behind.
Sir, its time.
Mal boards the ambulance gives Kaylee one last reassuring look, and then the door is closed. Kaylee runs to the ramp and lowers it. The ambulance rises and then moves slowly toward the door. Wash gives a big grin and thumbs up to Kaylee and she smiles and returns the thumbs up. Then the ambulance is gone.
Be safe.
She closes the ramp and then heads upstairs.
3. WHERE MAL AND JAYNE MAKE THE DEAL WITH BADGER FOR THE COWS FROM “Shindig” INT. BADGER’S LAIR - DAY
Badger, Mal, and Jayne sit at the table in Badger’s lair, Jayne still drinking and eating.
BADGER
You want to do business in Persephone, you do it through me. But if you’re so well off you don’t need it...
Now let’s not be hasty. What’s the cargo?
Load of cattle, for Jiangyin, 30 coin a head, fella name of Grange the buyer. You get half.
Cattle? Gorramn it!
Cattle’s awful lot of trouble on a ship. Get spooked they got no where to go. Could be me and mine get hurt in the process.
Yeah and Jiangyin ain’t around the corner. Must be what...
At least three weeks flying time. (beat)Why not just slaughter ‘em and put the meat in some portable freezers on board?
No rutting way. Buyer wants ‘em alive, fresh meat on the hoof.
Then there’s feed for them and fencing to make a corral if we gotta stop somewhere or if your buyer wants to do business in some out of the way spot. Not to mention three weeks of the worst kind of smell of cow droppings. Lot of trouble.
You done a cattle run before?
No, but I know cattle. I wasn’t always captain of a transport.
Reckon we all have a past. (beat) Tell you want, to make it worth your spot a trouble, I’ll throw in an extra 300 if you make the deal. How’s that grab ya?
Jayne and Mal look at each other in surprise.
(suspicious)
What’s the catch?
Ain’t no catch. Just want to get into a business situation with this Harrow fella. He’s a good contact. Always look to the future, I say. Worth 300 to me. (beat) And not a drop more.
Mal sits thinking. Badger gets impatient.
BADGER (CONT’D)
So, we got us a deal or what?
I got a few conditions first.
Badger raises his eyebrows at this.
Conditions? What conditions?
First, I ain’t taking one of your so called “ladies” on my arm to the ball. I’m taking one of my crew.
Badger looks at Jayne and puts on a big grin.
Don’t reckon there’s a dress big enough for likes a him on whole of Persephone.
Keep cracking jokes little man we’ll see who ends up laughing last.
I reckon that’d be me.
No, Jayne’s a bit too much on the ugly side for the likes of a fancy ball as you been describing. ‘Sides he’s a might too hairy.
Keep on talking like I ain’t here, why don’t ya.
Who then? Miss Inara, the lovely Companion? She’ll get you in and have every man wishing they was you in a sec.
She already has a date for the ball and I really don’t want to attract that much attention.
Take Zoe, case there’s trouble.
Normally I’d agree, and Zoe is a fine lady and great in a fight, but I’m thinking on someone else.
Ain’t no one else, ‘cept...Kaylee?
Kaylee? Little mechanic always with a spot a grease on her nose few times I seen her?
Yeah, that’s her. I kinda owe her.
OK by me, long as she looks the part. She got a fancy dress?
Don’t think so.
Well, I ain’t wasting my invites if you can’t get in the gorramn door.
That comes to condition number two.(beat) You buying her a dress for the ball.
Badger looks at him for a long beat.
Me? Laying out money so you can return a favor to one a your gorramn crew? No, mate, don’t think that’s gonna be part a this here deal.
Look, you need me and I need you to do this. I done lots a jobs for you and never screwed you.
JAYNE (to Badger)
Bet you can’t say the same.
Last time was strictly a business decision. You lot attracted too much Alliance heat. Don’t need no feds snooping around.
So we go a deal or what?
EXT. DRESS SHOP, PERSEPHONE - DAY
Mal and Jayne stand outside the shop, looking at the model in the pink dress Kaylee was admiring earlier.
That the one?
I think so. Hell, I don’t remember.
Yeah, that’s the one. Come on.
Mal heads to the dress shop door. Jayne doesn’t move. Mal turns to him.
I ain’t going in there. That’s a lady’s shop.
Mal gets an exasperated look.
Jayne, ain’t you never bought a gift for a lady?
Most kinds a ladies I meet are the kind that takes cash only.
Come on!
Jayne reluctantly follows him.
INT. DRESS SHOP, PERSEPHONE - DAY
Mal and Jayne are out of place here among all the fine lace and silk. Mal looks for someone to help them while Jayne notices the model in the window and gives her a big smile, which she ignores and rolls her eyes. A fine looking lady, The MANAGER, with airs of class, approaches and gives them the once over.
MANAGER
May I help you...gentlemen?
Yeah, that pink dress, the one the model’s wearing, we’ll take it.
But where’s the lady it’s for?
Sorry?
I mean, she’ll need to have it fitted properly. You can’t just buy a dress like that without a fitting.
What’s going on?
Have you never bought a dress for your wife before?
I ain’t married.
Me ne...ah, no, ah, yes, sorry, but she’s busy. With the...kids...and we need the dress quick like since we’re going to some fancy ball tonight.
MANAGER (shocked)
You....you....have an invitation to the ball. The one tonight?
Yeah, of course. Boss gave them to me. Guess I’m one of his special employees.
But those invitations are impossible to get.
Well, can’t be that hard. I got a pair.
She is clearly jealous and a look of devilment crosses her face.
No, that pink dress would be perfect for your wife. I’m sure she can do the fitting herself at home. (snobbish) I’m sure she has lots of practice mending clothes and such.
Mal gives her a puzzled look.
Yeah, lots.
It’s her first ball, isn’t it?
Yeah, reckon so. First with me. She’s gonna be so happy.
The Manager moves to the model in the pink dress.
Yeah, if she’s even talking to ya.
Jayne...
The model has gone toward the back of the shop.
Now, sir, is that cash or charge?
Cash.
He pulls a big wad of bills out of his pocket. The Manager hands him the bill on a piece of paper. Mal’s eyes go wide.
What did you expect, sir? It is a lovely dress after all. She’ll be the toast of the ball.
Mal grimaces and starts peeling off bills, hands them to her, the roll of cash almost gone.
MANAGER (CONT’D)
Oh, and does she have a pink handbag?
Mal looks at Jayne and he shrugs.
Suppose you sell them, too?
Of course.
She walks to a shelf and picks up a pink handbag and Mal peels off more bills.
Oh, and she’ll definitely need some ribbon for her hair. Its the latest fashion.
Definitely.
This is on the house.
She hands Mal some pink ribbon in a plastic bag.
Thanks.
The model comes out in just a silk robe holding the dress. Jayne puts on a big grin again and the model again ignores him and leaves.
Thank you, Tela. Just let me wrap it in some plastic for you.
She wraps it up as Mal waits, getting more impatient. Finally its ready and she hands it to Mal.
And here we are. Please tell your wife to come in and tell us how everyone liked the dress. I’m sure it will be the talk of the ball.
You can count on it. You all have a nice day.
EXT. STREET, PERSEPHONE - DAY
Mal and Jayne walk away from the dress shop.
She was a bit...
Of a snob. You caught that, too. And sarcastic. Well, no time for second thoughts. I’m sure Kaylee will love it.
Cost enough. Glad it’s Badger’s money.
Was hoping to spend less and keep the difference.
That didn’t work out so well.
Yeah. (beat) Next time I go say something stupid to Kaylee, remind me not to, OK?
Yeah. Once in a dress shop enough to do me rest a my life.
COMMENTS
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:45 AM
SHINYZOEKAYLEE
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